Insulated container

ABSTRACT

A dual container suitable for protecting the contents from changes in environmental conditions comprises the combination of an outer container having a screw thread neck, with a smaller inner container, the area between the inner and outer container forming an insulating zone and the inner and outer containers being concentrically positioned. A support means maintains the inner container in the desired position within the outer container. In the insulating zone air may provide the required insulation or it may be filled with an insulating substance which can also act as the support means. The screw on cap provided is designed to form a moisture impermeable seal over the mouth of the inner container.

United States Patent 91 Picciano et al.

[ INSULATED CONTAINER Neg gers, l-lopatcong, all of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Warner-Lambert Company, Morris Plains, NJ.

[22] Filed: June 1, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 148,553

[52] US. Cl. ..220/9 F, 220/17 [51] ..B65d 25/18 [58] Field of Search ..220/9 E, 9 F, 9 M,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,069,041 12/1962 Musso et al. ..220/9 F 1,041,669 10/1912 Priseler et al..... .220/24 H 2,781,937 2/1957 Piker ..220/17 3,156,279 11/1964 Grebowiec et al.... ....220/17 X 3,155,260 11/1964 Widener ..220/9 F [451 May 1,1973

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATlONS 1,152,037 5/1969 Great Britain ..220/9 F Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.

Assistant Examiner-Michael Mar AttorneyAlbert H. Graddis, Frank S. Chow and Anne M. Kelly 5 7] ABSTRACT A dual container suitable for protecting the contents from changes in environmental conditions comprises the combination of an outer container having a screw thread neck, with a smaller inner container, the area between the inner and outer container forming an insulating zone and the inner and outer containers being concentrically positioned. A support means maintains the inner container in the desired position within the outer container. 1n the insulating zone air may provide the required insulation or it may be filled with an insulating substance which can also act as the support means. The screw on cap provided is designed to form a moisture impermeable seal over the mouth of the inner container.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIEDMM H973 3,730,374

sum 3 OF 3 INVENTORS fuse/v.5 ,4. ,Q

INSULATED CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many marketed products are subject to some form of deterioration almost from the time of manufacture, unless the specific environmental conditions to which they are exposed are carefully controlled. Certainly in the food industry spoilage problems are quite well known and have led to the development of highly specialized shipping and storage facilities to insure product stability. However, deterioration due to changes in environmental conditions presents additional problems in the case of certain products. For example, the therapeutic activity of medicinal preparations must be immediately available to a patient because of the crucial nature of the physiological condition for which they are used: maintenance of the specific environmental conditions in such situations becomes extremely difficult. Nitroglycerin, for example, is generally supplied in the form of a tablet for relief of attacks of angina pectoris and must be carried by the patient at all times in some easily accessible container so that immediate administration by the patient himself is possible should ananginal attach occur. However, studies have shown that nitroglycerin is inactivated-by light, heat, air, and moisture: as reported in American Heart Journal, 72: 842 (1966), it was recommended that when a patient reports that nitroglycerin failed to relieve an episode of angina pectoris, it should be suspected that the nitroglycerin had been inactivated. The authors therefore suggest that nitroglycerin be kept in a dark bottle or a plastic container, and further, that it should not be kept close to the body. Other suggestions in this article relate to the need for having the nitroglycerin tablets easily accessible, i.e., cotton should not be used to stuff the tablets down into the container since this would prevent the patient from removing them from the bottle quickly, which is necessary in the case of an attack of angina pectoris.

Thus, while containers are available for packaging unstable products such as nitroglycerin, they have certain disadvantages. In particular, the fact that the prior art containers cannot be kept close to the body would seem to present aserious problem since it is essential that the patient carry this particular medication at all times in some easily accessible place such as a pocket. Further, commercially available containers offer no protection against environmental conditions, such as varying changes in heat and relative humidity, both of which are known to inactivate nitroglycerin Thus, there exits a real need for a specialized container which can protect ingredients from harmful environmental changes,'yet be sufficiently compact to be carried in a pocket, close to the body. Also, this container must be easily opened, in times of stress.

The insulated container of this invention, which is simple in design and relatively easy to manufacture, does protect the contents when the container is exposed to changes in environmental conditions. More importantly, the insulated container is easy to open and permits the product, such as nitroglycerin tablets to be removed quickly from the container. Further, the insulated container of this invention provides a sufficient insulating effect so that the contents may be carried in close proximity to the body without danger of inactivation.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The insulated container of this invention is a dual container which comprises an outer container having a threaded screw neck; a smaller inner container, suspended within the outer container and surrounded by an insulating medium; a unitary support means adapted to support the inner container within the outer container in a centrally located position such that the mouth of the inner container is in alignment with the mouth of the outer container; and a threaded screw cap having an interior surface which forms a moisture impermeable seal with the mouth of the inner container when the screw cap fully engages the outer container and is screwed down in a closed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of one embodiment of the insulated container of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of this embodiment taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in perspective of the insulated container shown in FIG. 1.

FIG 4 is a fragmentary view in section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in which-a modified form of cap is employed.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another form of cap and container of this invention shown in more detail in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view in perspective of the insulated container shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view in perspective of yet another embodiment of an insulated container of this invention showing the inner container, the inner container support means, the outer container and the cap.

FIG. 8 is a view in section of the container of FIG. 7 taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7 and,

FIG. 9 is a view in a single plane of the inner container support means as it is initially punched and scored prior to being folded into the support shown in FIG. 8.

Like reference numerals refer to throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing, the assembled insulated container of this invention consists of outer container 1 adapted to receive a shaped insu lating body 7 into which there is fitted an inner container 5. Insulating body 7 also acts as the support means for maintaining container 5 within outer container l in a centrally located position so that the mouth 6 of inner container 5 is in axial alignment with mouth 4 of outer container 1. Screw cap 2 is adapted to outer container 1 at threaded neck 3. Insulating body 7 is bevelled at its upper end as is the inner surface of screw cap 2 so that when the parts are assembled and both the container and screw cap are fully engaged, insulating body 7 is not only held firmly in place but the contact of the screw cap interior surface 10 with inner container mouth 6 forms a moisture impermeable seal.

As shown in FIG. 4, screw cap 11 may be provided with a protuberance 12 extending downwardly into inner container 5 when the parts are engaged so as to like parts form a moisture impermeable seal over inner container mouth 6 when screw cap 11 and outer container 1 are fully engaged.

Another embodiment of the insulated container of this invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The support means shown is generally designated by numeral 16 and comprises a supporting leg 17, a generally circular support base 18 and an upper annular support flange 19. These parts may be integrally molded and together enable inner container 5 to be positioned at the center of outer container 1 when inner container 5 is dropped through flange 19 and support 16 and container 5 placed in container 1 so that leg 17 reaches the inside lower surface of outer container 1. Support means 16 may be made of any suitable material which may also provide some insulating effect. Space as shown in this embodiment is filled with air. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, screw cap 13 may be provided with an inner ring 14 which contacts annular ring 19 of support means 16 when the screw threads 8 of screw cap 13 fully engage the threads on neck 3 of outer container 1. As described in previous embodiments, a moisture impermeable seal is thus formed where inner container mouth 6 is engaged by screw cap interior surface 10.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 represent another and preferred embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment there is provided a support means generally designated by numeral 20 formed of a cardboard material, for example, which has been punched and scored so that it may be folded to form the desired support structure. As shown in FIG. 9, panels 21, 23 and 24 are folded together along the score lines shown to form the triangular support means 20 shown in folded form in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In the flat form shown in FIG. 9, a cutout section in panel 21 forms a flap 26 which when folded up as shown in FIG. 7 forms a support base for the bottom of inner container 5. Projection 22 and opposing projection 22, both in panel 21, extend into the cutout section from which flap 26 is displaced. Cutout sections and 25' are provided in panels 23 and 24 so that when flap 26 is folded up in working position, as in FIGS. 7 and 8, the two corners of flap 26 extend into cutout sections 25 and 25'. Flaps 27, 27' and 27" are extensions of panels 21, 23 and 24, respectively with an upper annular flap 28 being provided as an extension of center flap 27. Flaps 27, 27, and 27" fold radially outward and, when in a working position are in contact with the inner wall of outer container 1 to locate and suspend inner container 5 at the center of outer container 1. Upper annular flap 28, when in a working position, folds over inner container mouth 6 resting upon flaps 27, 27 and 27" as shown in FIG. 7 and in position to receive inner container 5.

The above described embodiments represent but a few of the many possible variations of the insulated container of this invention. Obviously, the bevelling of both the screw cap and insulating material as pictured in FIGS. 2 and 4 could be adapted for use with the embodiments pictured in FIGS. 5, 6, or 7. And variations of screw caps 12 and 13 could be adapted for use with any of the embodiments pictured. For instance, the external shape of the container itself may be altered considerably without departing from the basic concept of the invention: rectangular or elliptically shaped containers are, of course, within the scope of the invention. Other embodiments of this invention are also possible. The essential features of the insulated container of this invention which must be present in order to protect the contents of the container from changes in environmental conditions include an outer container having a threaded screw neck; a smaller inner container suspended within the outer container and surrounded by some insulating substance; a support means which will suspend the inner container centrally within the outer container so that the mouth of both inner and outer container are in axial alignment; and a screw cap having internal threads which will engage the threads on the outer container screw neck and form a moisture impermeable seal over the mouth of the inner container when the screw cap and outer container are fully engaged. Either the inner or outer container, and optionally both inner and outer containers, is opaque. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer container is opaque and the inner container may transmit light.

Any suitable material of construction may be used to form the various parts of the insulated container of this invention. Choice of material is often dictated by availability, economy and the particular ingredients being packaged. Thus, either the inner or outer container or both may be made of any material through which light will not pass: this may be one of many opaque plastic materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyolefin copolymers or similar plastic materials; opaque glass or metal may also be used to form either container. As long as the container is opaque, the other may be of a light-transmitting form of any of the above materials.

The insulating substance may be air, cellular plastic foam such as polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, foamed rubber or other resinous foamed materials; cellulosic materials such as paper products, shredded fibers and the like, and combinations of foamed substances with cellulosic materials may be used.

The support means may be made of any of the above mentioned plastic foam insulating materials, as well as from other materials of construction such as nonfoamed plastics, paperboard products and the like.

The screw cap used on the insulated container of this invention may be prepared from any one of a number of suitable materials including plastics, glass or metal. It is generally desirable that the screw cap be flexible to some extent, and therefore plastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, or polyolefin copolymers are preferred.

In order to make the preferred insulated container of this invention, the outer container is made from opaque polyethylene, the inner container is clear glass, the support means is a lightweight cardboard or foamed plastic, the insulating substance is air, and the screw cap is opaque polyethylene.

The insulated container of this invention may be used to protect a variety of ingredients from changes in environmental conditions. In particular, it has been found to keep nitroglycerin tablets stable for 1 month at 37C and percent relative humidity. Under the test conditions used, the container was not left open for extended periods of time nor exposed to temperatures or humidities exceeding these specified.

What is claimed is:

1. An insulated container adapted for protecting ingredients within from changes in environmental conditions which comprises:

A. An outer container having a threaded screw neck;

B. A smaller inner container, suspended within said outer container and surrounded by an insulating substance;

C. A support means adapted to suspend said inner container centrally within said outer container in a 5 position such that the mouth of the inner container is in axial alignment with the mouth of the outer container; said support means comprising:

1. At least one support leg, suitably positioned on said support means so as to extend into the outer l0 container to the internal bottom surface thereof;

. A support base suitably positioned on said support means so as to suspend the inner container perpendicularly within the outer container, with the mouth of the inner container in axial alignment with the mouth of the outer container; and

3. A flange suitably positioned on said support means so as to suspend the inner container laterally within the center of the outer container; and

D. A screw cap, having internal threads adapted for cooperative engagement with the threads on the outer container neck, to form a moisture impermeable seal with the mouth of the inner container 25 when the screw cap fully engages the outer con tainer by being screwed down on the threads thereof; at least one of said inner and outer containers being made of an opaque material.

2. An insulated container according to claim 1 wherein the support means is a polystyrene foam product.

3. An insulated container according to claim 1 wherein the support means is a stiff but flexible paper product.

4. An insulated container according to claim 3 wherein said insulating substance is air and said support means comprises a unitary punched and scored sheet material, folded along scored lines to form a triangle made up of three panels; two of said panels having cutout sections, and the third panel being partially punched and scored to provide a flap which when folded inwardly forms a support base which rests in a folded position in the cutout sections present in the other panels; each of said panels being scored and folded at their upper end so as to form an annular flap, the center of which acts to suspend the inner container centrally within the outer container. 

1. At least one support leg, suitably positioned on said support means so as to extend into the outer container to the internal bottom surface thereof;
 1. An insulated container adapted for protecting ingredients within from changes in environmental conditions which comprises: A. An outer container having a threaded screw neck; B. A smaller inner container, suspended within said outer container and surrounded by an insulating substance; C. A support means adapted to suspend said inner container centrally within said outer container in a position such that the mouth of the inner container is in axial alignment with the mouth of the outer container; said support means comprising:
 2. A support base suitably positioned on said support means so as to suspend the inner container perpendicularly within the outer container, with the mouth of the inner container in axial alignment with the mouth of the outer container; and
 2. A support base suitably positioned on said support means so as to suspend the inner container perpendicularly within the outer container, with the mouth of the inner container in axial alignment with the mouth of the outer container; and
 2. An insulated container according to claim 1 wherein the support means is a polystyrene foam product.
 3. A flange suitably positioned on said support means so as to suspend the inner container laterally within the center of the outer container; and D. A screw cap, having internal threads adapted for cooperative engagement with the threads on the outer container neck, to form a moisture impermeable seal with the mouth of the inner container when the screw cap fully engages the outer container by being screwed down on the threads thereof; at least one of said inner and outer containers being made of an opaque material.
 3. An insulated container according to claim 1 wherein the support means is a stiff but flexible paper product.
 3. A flange suitably positioned on said support means so as to suspend the inner container laterally within the center of the outer container; and D. A screw cap, having internal threads adapted for cooperative engagement with the threads on the outer container neck, to form a moisture impermeable seal with the mouth of the inner container when the screw cap fully engages the outer container by being screwed down on the threads thereof; at least one of said inner and outer containers being made of an opaque material.
 4. An insulated container according to claim 3 wherein said insulating substance is air and said support means comprises a unitary punched and scored sheet material, folded along scored lines to form a triangle made up of three panels; two of said panels having cutout sections, and the third panel being partially punched and scored to provide a flap which when folded inwardly forms a support base which rests in a folded position in the cutout sections present in the other panels; each of said panels being scored and folded at their upper end so as to form an annular flap, the center of which acts to suspend the inner container centrally within the outer container. 